Sean O’Neil

Road casualties have decreased by twenty-four per cent according to new figures presented to the local Aberdeenshire scrutiny board.

The figures from April to June 2015 also show a forty per cent reduction in serious assaults.

Chief Superintendent Thomson, Divisional Commander for Aberdeenshire and Moray, said: “I have recently taken over as Divisional Commander where I have joined a team who are committed to keeping Aberdeenshire a safe place to live and work.

“I am encouraged by this report which shows a further fall in overall crime in the first quarter of this year.”

Despite the reduction in casualties from road traffic collisions five people have still been killed on Aberdeenshire and Moray roads in recent months.

Mr Thomson said: “Through our road safety strategy, Operation CEDAR, a local campaign aimed at encouraging drivers to take more responsibility on the roads, Aberdeenshire and Moray Division along with partners continue to work together to highlight this area of concern.

“Road safety is a key local priority for Police Scotland and we will continue to carry out high visibility patrols throughout Aberdeenshire and in areas we have identified as priority.”

The fig ures for the 2015/2016 first quarter which were presented to the Aberdeenshire scrutiny board today also showed that the detection rate for serious assaults is over 93 and for robberies is 100% .